Seniority

[OB2010]

I currently work in small community hospital where floating happens regularly. Each shift there is a charge nurse assigned, always the most senior nurse. If that nurse doesn't come in that day due to illness or being put on call the charge nurse roll then typically falls on the next senior nurse that's scheduled for that shift. We also keep track of how much our nurses float so everyone can have their turn and one nurse doesn't always get floated. Some of our junior nurses are wanting to do away with the current rule in place that the next senior nurse is in charge when the scheduled charge nurse is not there. They want the charge nurse to fall to anyone capable of charging so the junior/newer nurses don't have to float as much. For example:

Nurse 1 is scheduled charge but is ill

Nurse 2 is next on list for seniority and working

Nurse 3 is next also working

Nurse 2 has less floating hours than Nurse 3. So Nurse 3 now wants to be in charge and make Nurse 2 float, even though Nurse 2 has the seniority and would typically be in charge under old rule.

Thoughts? Anyone have articles to support seniority in nursing?

Thanks

[Ruby Vee, BSN]

There are various ways to determine who floats. I've seen it done by seniority, by last float date and by a complicated matrix that also takes into account how much overtime someone has worked. If your hospital has decided that seniority is the way to go and you want to change that, you will get pushback from senior nurses. Suck it up and float until you become more senior.

[JadedCPN, BSN, RN]

I've worked in a facility where it was strictly based on seniority, and I've worked in a facility where it was based on the last float date as long as there was someone competent and able to be charge.